# Gordon Duncan

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For the Scottish flying ace, see [Gordon Duncan (aviator)](/source/Gordon_Duncan_(aviator)).

**Gordon Duncan** (14 May 1964 – 14 December 2005) was a Scottish [bagpiper](/source/Bagpipes), [low whistle](/source/Low_whistle) player and composer.

## Early life

Duncan was born in [Turriff, Aberdeenshire](/source/Turriff,_Aberdeenshire) on 14 May 1964. His parents were tenant farmer and [bothy ballad](/source/Bothy_ballad) singer [Jock Duncan](/source/Jock_Duncan) and Frances Duncan.[1] Jock Duncan joined the [North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board](/source/North_of_Scotland_Hydro-Electric_Board) shortly after Duncan's birth and the family moved to [Thurso](/source/Thurso) then to [Pitlochry](/source/Pitlochry).[1] Initially taught by his father, Gordon began his piping career at the age of 10, winning many junior competitions under the tuition of Walter Drysdale,[1] but started to lose interest in competition piping by the age of 18, at which point he was an apprentice [joiner](/source/Joiner).[2]

## Career

He attracted attention from [folk](/source/Folk_music) bands, touring the US and Europe with the [Tannahill Weavers](/source/Tannahill_Weavers), [Wolfstone](/source/Wolfstone) and [Ceolbeg](/source/Ceolbeg) and became associated with [Dougie MacLean](/source/Dougie_MacLean), playing [low whistle](/source/Low_whistle) on his albums.[2][3] He began composing soon afterwards, having travelled across Europe and been exposed to other traditions, especially [Breton music](/source/Music_of_Brittany).[2]

He was a very influential piper who broke the boundaries of traditional piping music.[4] He was a member of the [Vale of Atholl Pipe Band](/source/Vale_of_Atholl_Pipe_Band) and also performed with the [Atholl Highlanders](/source/Atholl_Highlanders), as well as being signed by [Greentrax](/source/Greentrax) as a solo artist.[2][5] Duncan also taught pipers Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton, who have gone on to have musical careers with some acclaim.[6][7]

Duncan created a new style of [idiosyncratic](/source/Idiosyncratic) bagpipe music.[1] He also incorporated the bagpipes into a rendition of [AC/DC](/source/AC/DC)'s [Thunderstruck](/source/Thunderstruck_(song)).[2] His work was heard at [T in the Park](/source/T_in_the_Park), [Celtic Connections](/source/Celtic_Connections), [Celtic Colours](/source/Celtic_Colours) in Canada, the [Lorient festival](/source/Festival_Interceltique_de_Lorient) in Brittany, where he was the two-time winner of the MacAllan Trophy and the [Fleadh Cheoil](/source/Fleadh_Cheoil) in Ireland.[8][9]

He worked as a [refuse collector](/source/Refuse_collector) and was known to scribble compositions on cigarette packets whilst at work.[1]

## Compositions

Duncan composed over one hundred tunes in his lifetime, with perhaps his most famous work, *Andy Renwick's Ferret*, being performed and recorded internationally.[2][5][8]

He arranged music for the Vale of Atholl and [ScottishPower](/source/ScottishPower_Pipe_Band) pipe bands.[10][11]

## Death

On 14 December 2005, Duncan was found dead at his home in Perthshire following a long struggle with alcoholism.[1] His funeral was held at [Pitlochry Church of Scotland](/source/Pitlochry_Church_of_Scotland) and was attended by hundreds of pipers.[5][9] In his memory, the *Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust*[12] was set up early in 2006 to support good causes in piping.[13]

In 2007, *A National Treasure* concert was staged in [Perth](/source/Perth,_Scotland) by the Trust, and for the following four years, with the BBC airing the 2011 concert.[12][9][14][15] In January 2016, a gig was at the [Glasgow Royal Concert Hall](/source/Glasgow_Royal_Concert_Hall) as part of [Celtic Connections](/source/Celtic_Connections).[16]

## Personal life

He had a wife, Mary, and a son, Gordon, two sisters, and his brother, Ian Duncan, is also a piper.[1]

## Discography

He recorded three solo albums, and a further album was compiled after his death from previously recorded material.[10][17][18]

- *Just for Seumas* (1994)
- *Circular Breath* (1997)
- *Thunderstruck* (2003)
- *Just for Gordon* (2007)

## References

1. Gilchrist, Jim (20 December 2005). ["Obituary: Gordon Duncan"](https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/gordon-duncan-2469204). *The Scotsman*. p. 33. Retrieved 7 April 2022.

1. Adams, Rob (22 December 2005). ["Gordon Duncan; Renowned musician and composer"](http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12447722.Gordon_Duncan_Renowned_musician_and_composer/). *The Herald*. p. 16. Retrieved 27 December 2016.

1. Adams, Rob (13 December 1990). "THEATRE / Brand new bag; Rob Adams reports on attempts to breathe new life into an ancient tradition". *The Independent*. p. 14.

1. ["Young pipers heading off in new directions"](http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/young-pipers-heading-off-in-new-directions-1-1402380). *The Scotsman*. 15 August 2005. Retrieved 27 December 2016.

1. "Funeral of renowned piper who died at 41". *Aberdeen Evening Express*. 21 December 2005. p. 18.

1. Adams, Rob (8 January 2016). ["Remembering the man who reinvented the pipes"](https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/arts_ents/14183588.remembering-man-reinvented-pipes/). *The Herald*. Retrieved 13 August 2024.

1. Pullar, Polly (17 February 2022). ["Acclaimed piper Ross Ainslie opens up about wild tours, mental health and the loss of his inspirational mentor"](https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/ross-ainslie). *[The Sunday Post](/source/The_Sunday_Post)*. Retrieved 13 August 2024.

1. McDonald, Graham (20 June 2001). "Night with piper far from highland fling". *Canberra Times*. p. 8.

1. English, Spaul (31 December 2011). "Just for Gordon Sunday, BBC Alba, Pipers' Champion; Piper was Regarded as One of the Most Innovative Performers and Composers". *Daily Record*. pp. 16–17.

1. ["Gordon Duncan: 1964–2006.(Obituary)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140629085908/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143213414.html). *Sing Out!*. 22 March 2006. Archived from [the original](http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143213414.html) on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014. – via [HighBeam](/source/HighBeam)

1. ["Gordon Duncan"](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gordon-duncan-mn0000663372/discography). Allmusic. Retrieved 13 April 2013.

1. ["The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust"](http://www.gordonduncan.co.uk/). The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust. Retrieved 13 April 2013.

1. Letford, Stuart (14 December 2021). "[Famous pipers: Gordon Duncan](https://bagpipe.news/2021/12/14/famous-pipers-gordon-duncan/)", *NPC Bagpipe News*. Retrieved 15 Aug. 2024.

1. Gilchrist, Jim (20 September 2012). ["Review : Folk, Jazz, Etc : Blowing up a storm in celebration of piper Duncan's legacy"](http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/music/folk-jazz-etc-blowing-up-a-storm-in-celebration-of-piper-duncan-s-legacy-1-2536803). *The Scotsman*. p. 10. Retrieved 27 December 2016.

1. Adams, Rob (26 September 2011). ["A National Treasure V, Perth Concert Hall"](http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/13037075.A_National_Treasure_V__Perth_Concert_Hall/). *The Herald*. p. 17. Retrieved 13 April 2013.

1. ["Celtic Connections 2016: Director Donald Shaw picks 10 highlights"](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-35303271). *BBC News*. 14 January 2016.

1. ["Just For Gordon (CD)"](http://www.footstompin.com/cd-gordon-duncan-just-for-gordon-cd). Foot Stompin' Celtic Music. Retrieved 20 May 2014.

1. ["Gordon Duncan"](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gordon-duncan-mn0000663372). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Retrieved 13 April 2013.

## External links

- [Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust](http://www.gordonduncan.co.uk/)
- [Just For Gordon / Dha Gordon a-mhain](https://www.youtube.com/Y-UCdslwnk8) on YouTube (BBC Alba documentary on Gordon Duncan's life)
- [Thunderstruck – Gordon Duncan](https://www.youtube.com/_EwDlUHoDFo) on YouTube
- [Sleeping Tune played by Stuart Cassells](https://www.youtube.com/2n43QhT2-rY) on YouTube

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